Abstract: Method for preparing a 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (“FDCA”) comprising: contacting a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that has greater than 34% sequence identity with an amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 with furoic acid in the presence of carbon dioxide; wherein the polypeptide has carboxylase and decarboxylase activity and comprises (i) the amino acid corresponding to H297 or a functional substitution thereof and (ii) at least one of (a) the amino acid corresponding to R305 or a functional substitution thereof; and (b) the amino acid corresponding to R332 or a functional substitution thereof; wherein the position is numbered relative to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2.

Abstract: An on-demand vapour generator includes a vapour chamber configured to produce a vapour and a vapour absorption assembly configured to receive flows of vapour from the vapour chamber. The vapour absorption assembly includes a first vapour-permeable passage having a passage outlet and at least one second vapour-permeable passage that is closed. When vapour absorption assembly receives a flow of vapour from the vapour chamber, the flow of vapour passes through the first vapour-permeable passage to the passage outlet at least substantially without absorption of vapour from the flow of vapour. However, when a flow of vapour is not received from the vapour chamber, vapour entering the vapour absorption assembly from the vapour chamber passes into the first vapour-permeable passage and the at least one second vapour-permeable passage and is at least substantially absorbed.

Abstract: An on-demand vapour generator includes a vapour chamber configured to produce a vapour and a vapour absorption assembly configured to receive flows of vapour from the vapour chamber. The vapour absorption assembly includes a first vapour-permeable passage having a passage outlet and at least one second vapour-permeable passage that is closed. When vapour absorption assembly receives a flow of vapour from the vapour chamber, the flow of vapour passes through the first vapour-permeable passage to the passage outlet at least substantially without absorption of vapour from the flow of vapour. However, when a flow of vapour is not received from the vapour chamber, vapour entering the vapour absorption assembly from the vapour chamber passes into the first vapour-permeable passage and the at least one second vapour-permeable passage and is at least substantially absorbed.

Abstract: An on-demand vapor generator includes a vapor chamber configured to produce a vapor and a vapor absorption assembly configured to receive flows of vapor from the vapor chamber. The vapor absorption assembly includes a first vapor-permeable passage having a passage outlet and at least one second vapor-permeable passage that is closed. When vapor absorption assembly receives a flow of vapor from the vapor chamber, the flow of vapor passes through the first vapor-permeable passage to the passage outlet at least substantially without absorption of vapor from the flow of vapor. However, when a flow of vapor is not received from the vapor chamber, vapor entering the vapor absorption assembly from the vapor chamber passes into the first vapor-permeable passage and the at least one second vapor-permeable passage and is at least substantially absorbed.

Abstract: An on-demand vapour generator includes a vapour chamber configured to produce a vapour and a vapour absorption assembly configured to receive flows of vapour from the vapour chamber. The vapour absorption assembly includes a first vapour-permeable passage having a passage outlet and at least one second vapour-permeable passage that is closed. When vapour absorption assembly receives a flow of vapour front the vapour chamber, the flow of vapour passes through the first vapour-permeable passage to the passage outlet at least substantially without absorption of vapour from the flow of vapour. However, when a flow of vapour is not received from the vapour chamber, vapour entering the vapour absorption assembly from the vapour chamber passes into the first vapour-permeable passage and the at least one second vapour-permeable passage and is at least substantially absorbed.

Abstract: A tab member for use in a latchable slidable package. The tab member has opposed major faces connected by opposed side edges and comprises a body portion and a cut out defining a resiliently deformable latch member connected to the body portion by at least one live hinge. The latch member incorporates a latch formation that is moveable by a user in an unlatching direction substantially orthogonal to at least one side edge. The tab member is substantially planar, and the unlatching direction lies substantially in a plane of the tab member. The tab member can be incorporated into a latchable slidable package to provide child resistance by virtue of the latch member and the latch formation. The substantially planar nature of the tab member means that the tab member can be easily accommodated in the package.

Abstract: An on-demand vapor generator includes a vapor chamber configured to produce a vapor and a vapor absorption assembly configured to receive flows of vapor from the vapor chamber. The vapor absorption assembly includes a first vapor-permeable passage having a passage outlet and at least one second vapor-permeable passage that is closed. When vapor absorption assembly receives a flow of vapor from the vapor chamber, the flow of vapor passes through the first vapor-permeable passage to the passage outlet at least substantially without absorption of vapor from the flow of vapor. However, when a flow of vapor is not received from the vapor chamber, vapor entering the vapor absorption assembly from the vapor chamber passes into the first vapor-permeable passage and the at least one second vapor-permeable passage and is at least substantially absorbed.

Abstract: A vacuum deposition substrate comprising at least one of a plurality of patterned recesses, raises, or openings. The at least one of a plurality of patterned recesses, raises, or openings further define a geometry of a medical device.

Abstract: Methods for making the medical devices consist of either providing or forming a scaffold, then depositing a metallic or pseudometallic film cover onto the scaffold in such a manner as to form an integral, substantially monolithic junction between the deposited cover material and the scaffold.

Abstract: Method for preparing a mono-unsaturated alkene comprising contacting an aliphatic mono-unsaturated carboxylic acid with an Fdc1 polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence with at least 21% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 and a Pad1 polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence with at least 17% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2.

Abstract: An on-demand vapour generator includes a vapour chamber configured to produce a vapour and a vapour absorption assembly configured to receive flows of vapour from the vapour chamber. The vapour absorption assembly includes a first vapour-permeable passage having a passage outlet and at least one second vapour-permeable passage that is closed. When vapour absorption assembly receives a flow of vapour from the vapour chamber, the flow of vapour passes through the first vapour-permeable passage to the passage outlet at least substantially without absorption of vapour from the flow of vapour. However, when a flow of vapour is not received from the vapour chamber, vapour entering the vapour absorption assembly from the vapour chamber passes into the first vapour-permeable passage and the at least one second vapour-permeable passage and is at least substantially absorbed.

Abstract: Sacchromyces cerevisiae strains modified to express an adhE (alcohol/aldehyde dehydrogenase) enzyme having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:1, or a functional variant thereof capable of catalysing the conversion of acetyl CoA to ethanol, and/or to overexpress an ACS2 (acetyl-CoA synthetase) enzyme having the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO:2, or a functional variant thereof capable of catalysing the conversion of acetate to acetyl CoA. Such cells have an improved ability to grow on or in acetate-containing media compared to cells not according to the invention.

Abstract: A fuel composition comprising: a diesel base fuel; from 1 to 10% v/v of a fatty acid alkyl ester; and more than 10% v/v of an ether component, the ether component comprising one or more ether compounds having in the range of from 8 to 12 carbon atoms and selected from compounds of formula I R1—O—R2??(I) wherein R1 and R2 are independently primary or secondary alkyl.

Abstract: Method for converting a carbon source such as a plant-derived material into a hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon precursor, via a microorganism-catalysed aerobic reaction. The microorganism is cultivated in the presence of the carbon source and of oxygen, in a reaction vessel having a capacity of about 2000 litres or greater which comprises an aeration system for supplying oxygen to the microorganism. Also provided is an apparatus for use in the method, comprising a reaction vessel of capacity 2000 litres or greater, and an aeration system.

Abstract: Method for preparing a mono-unsaturated alkene comprising contacting an aliphatic mono-unsaturated carboxylic acid with an Fdc1 polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence with at least 21% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 and a Pad1 polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence with at least 17% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2.

Abstract: A process for producing ethylene from a carbonaceous containing feedstock the process comprising the steps of a) reforming the carbonaceous containing feedstock into a first product stream comprising carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen; b) fermenting the first product stream with an acetogenic anaerobic bacteria to produce a second product stream comprising ethanol; c) concentrating ethanol from the second product stream into a third product stream and; d) dehydrating ethanol in the third product stream to produce ethylene.

Abstract: Scaffold-supported metal or pseudometallic film covers suitable for use as medical devices are disclosed together with methods of fabricating the devices. Methods for making the medical devices consist of either providing or forming a scaffold, then depositing a metallic or pseudometallic film cover onto the scaffold in such a manner as to form an integral, substantially monolithic junction between the deposited cover material and the scaffold.

Abstract: Scaffold-supported metal or pseudometallic film covers suitable for use as medical devices are disclosed together with methods of fabricating the devices. Methods for making the medical devices consist of either providing or forming a scaffold, then depositing a metallic or pseudometallic film cover onto the scaffold in such a manner as to form an integral, substantially monolithic junction between the deposited cover material and the scaffold.

Abstract: Lacrosse-stick heads are described. In one embodiment, a lacrosse-stick head includes a throat, a transverse wall, and two sidewalls extending outward from the throat and connected by the transverse wall. The throat includes two side surfaces. At least one of the sidewalls and an adjacent side surface of the throat are sized, shaped, and positioned for stably rolling a lacrosse ball throughout at least a portion of the length of the at least one of the sidewalls and onto the adjacent side surface. The portion includes more than one half of the length of the at least one of the sidewalls.